This Cheesy Taco Pasta is cheesy, tomato-y, and addictive! Made with 7 simple pantry ingredients, it's incredibly easy to make, and even the pickiest eaters love it.
Looking for more easy weeknight dinners? Try my Cheeseburger Macaroni next!
About This Recipe
On this week's edition of "weeknight pantry meals", we have cheesy taco pasta! Made with 7 simple ingredients, it's everything you love about tacos, but tossed with pasta shells for the most satisfying dinner. To flavor the beef, I sauteed it with lots of onion and garlic, and mixed it with store-bought taco seasoning, which makes this recipe super easy.
Who doesn't love a cheesy taco? I love this recipe because it's packed with Tex-Mex flavors, easy to throw together, and fits the palette of even the pickiest eaters. The only downside is that it's not very vegetable-forward (i.e, no green vegetables). But to balance that out, you can serve a healthy green side dish alongside it, or do what I do and stir in some boiled chopped spinach at the end. It melts right into the sauce, and you can barely notice it! I didn't include it in my pictures, but I highly recommend it.
Key Ingredients
Rotini pasta: My choice of pasta is rotini because the little spirals really hold onto the sauce well. That said, any type of small pasta will work: shells, penne, you name it.
Ground beef: I recommend lean ground beef for its lower fat content. You can also use Italian sausages for a more flavorful punch.
Onions and garlic: For savory depth and freshness.
Taco seasoning: The secret ingredient that packs a ton of flavor into this meal with little effort. I used mild taco seasoning because my wife can't handle too much heat.
Salsa: I used mild salsa.
Cheddar cheese: I recommend buying a block of cheddar and shredding it yourself, as pre-shredded cheese is less melty due to the starches that are added.
Instructions
STEP 1: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
STEP 2: In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef, onions, and garlic until no longer pink, 7-8 minutes.
STEP 3: Stir in the taco seasoning.
STEP 4: Add the salsa and water and continue cooking for 1-3 minutes until thickened.
STEP 5: Reduce the heat to low and mix in the cooked pasta. Stir in the cheddar cheese and gently fold until the cheese melts. Enjoy!
๐ Recipe
Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 ounce package taco seasoning
- 1 ยฝ cups salsa
- ยฝ cup water
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef, onions, and garlic until no longer pink, 7-8 minutes.
- Stir in the taco seasoning.
- Add the salsa and water and continue cooking for 1-3 minutes until thickened.
- Reduce the heat to low and mix in the cooked pasta. Stir in the cheddar cheese and gently fold until the cheese melts. Enjoy!
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